Restored, redeemed... and rescuing a community

How the church can make a difference

Pastor Freddy was at a leader’s meeting at his new church leader’s home. His church leader had invited staff from Tearfund’s local partner, Programa de alimentación y desarrollo (PRODAD), to the meeting. Together, they spoke about how the local church can make a difference in the community and Pastor Freddy’s church leader spoke about how PRODAD was helping him, and others in the community, lift themselves out of poverty.

‘I began to investigate what was the reason for a Christian ministry,’ shares Pastor Freddy.

‘With this project, I learned for the first time the term integral mission. It was very innovative because it was not only [giving] attention to the spiritual, the preaching was complementary with the demonstration of love for our neighbour and God's creation.’

And through this revelation, Pastor Freddy was inspired to help his church put this teaching into action.

An opportunity to serve

‘In the year 2011 our community suffered a flood, and that was the opportunity to serve the community and especially the families who were in great need,’ explains Pastor Freddy.

‘Our church was opened to the community not only for worship, but also as a safe haven for those whose houses were flooded. We also provided food aid, house remodelling and toilets for the affected families.

‘I understood that the church should be there, where the need is strongest.’

A safe shelter

After this, Pastor Freddy joined the board of directors at PRODAD, alongside his role at the church.

‘It was a valuable opportunity to grow,’ shares Pastor Freddy. ‘I began a more intensive training process on issues of integral mission, risk management, and without a doubt a topic that marked me ministerially, was the local church and disasters. I became a facilitator of this topic and I have had the opportunity to share in workshops with pastors and churches.

‘One of the lessons learned has been that, by opening the doors of our church for community service, it has allowed us to strengthen the testimony of the church and we have grown as a congregation.

‘Our church is available for community service , ready to be used as a safe shelter in time of need. It is a place to meet with community leaders, strategic planning and trainings.’

The church leaps into action

‘In November 2020, the community was impacted by hurricanes Iota and Eta,’ shares Pastor Freddy. ‘Which in their wake left crops destroyed and psychological effects on families in the community as they lost all their power supply.’

‘Faced with [this]... we met with the community leaders in the church, and we carried out an assessment of damages and needs through visits to homes and plots of crops.

‘Then we proceeded to contact PRODAD, to carry out joint efforts to respond and, as a result, we helped 65 families with cleaning and biosafety kits, filters to purify water, cash, food packages, all of which were stored and distributed on the church property.’

‘I am aware that I am a pastor of the community, and our church has assumed as an incarnational commitment to serve our community.’

And it’s help that continues to this day.

Taking over

‘We have coordinated the visit of health services that in our church serve impoverished families of the community and other surrounding communities,’ says Pastor Freddy.

‘We are carrying out community clean-up and reforestation campaigns that were previously directed by PRODAD. They are now carried out by the church in association with community leaders, schools and the health ministry.

‘[We’re] training on issues of violence prevention, addictions counselling and support for families who have lost a loved one in the Covid-19 pandemic.’

‘It has been amazing to see how Pastor Freddy has faithfully followed God’s call and the difference that has made to an entire community,’ shares Alexis Pacheco, who leads Tearfund’s work in Nicaragua.

‘We know God works through the local church to help those who are marginalised and to bring justice. It is why at Tearfund we partner with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries.

‘The church is changing lives around the world and it is great to be a part of helping them to be able to do this.’

Pray with us

‘My request is that the church of the Lord may grow in vision, understanding and live integral mission as a visible commitment,’ shares Pastor Freddy.

1. Invite the Holy Spirit’s presence to be with you.
2. Praise God for the ways that the local church in Nicaragua are helping their local community overcome poverty and help them when disasters hit.
3. Read through Pastor Freddy’s prayer request again and pray it over your local church. Ask God to highlight ways in which your church can serve your local community. Continue to pray to God about this as you feel led.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a country to you in which you can then pray Pastor Freddy’s prayer request over the local church there. Let the Holy Spirit continue to guide you in how you can pray for the local church there.
5. End by thanking God for working through you and in you.